New York governor Andrew Cuomo and his state Gaming Commission are continuing to stall legislation to legalize sports betting.
This became clear last weekend when the NY State budget was finalized at $176 billion without any mention of sports betting.
State senator Joe Addabbo, chairman of NY’s racing, wagering, and gaming committee, and others like him were clearly disappointed.
“We’re sitting on the sidelines and letting our money go out of state,” Addabbo, a Democrat from Queens, told reporters.
In New Jersey, meanwhile, the state’s 13 sportsbooks and it’s betting authorities will likely be ‘raising a glass’ at the news.
Up to 25% of New Jersey’s handle comes out of New York
They have estimated that 10-25% of their betting handle comes from NY residents – and that’s not chicken feed. It’s been reported the NJ’s total handle after its first six months in the betting business was over $1 billion.
Some residents are reported to be cycling across the George Washington Bridge to establish an NJ geolocation for their betting. This is because the Federal ‘Wire Act’ makes cross-border online mobile betting illegal.
Since the Supreme Court ruled last May that sports betting was not illegal, several states have made moves to legalize it.
Eight, including sports betting crusader New Jersey, already have sportsbooks in operation. At least half a dozen others are working on legislation to make it legal, one of them being New York.
Here, however, Cuomo, supported by his Gaming Commission, has held up legislation by insisting on a three-year process of approval.
A change of the state constitution is not necessary – Addabbo
Addabbo and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, pushing for earlier legalization, see things differently. They argue that New York State law does not require lengthy Constitutional change – and they are correct.
However, even if a bill to OK sports betting can be pushed through by June, Cuomo will have the power to veto it.
In so far as brick and mortar sports-wagering via betting windows is concerned, four upstate New York casinos have been positioned to launch it for some time now.
If they haven’t done so, it is because the state’s Gaming Commission has been dilly-dallying with the legislation required.
Online sports betting in New York still has many complications in its path. Land-based sports betting at Casinos could, however, be possible by the start of the next football season – if Cuomo can be turned around.
